Thursday, November 22, 2012

Reggie's Five Favorites: Drugstore Staples

Please note: For those of my readers who may be somewhat squeamish or faint of heart when it comes to the subject of personal hygiene, please be forewarned that today's post includes the discussion of products that, in some cases, one uses in the privacy of one's bathroom.

Continuing the series in which I discussed my top five favorite household cleaning products, today's post focuses on Reggie's five favorite drugstore staples. These are inexpensive products widely available in pharmacies and supermarkets. Many have withstood the test of time and have been sold for many, many years. While Reggie's bathroom cabinets are full of expensive potions, lotions, and soaps from the likes of Kiehl's® and Molton Brown®, he doesn't use such products exclusively. The more quotidian, everyday products that he reaches for are the subject of today's essay.

1. Listerene® Mouthwash

Reggie is a great fan of old fashioned Listerene® antiseptic mouthwash, America's oldest over the counter mouthwash. Reggie prefers the original yellow formula—first sold to the public in 1914—that burns the inside of one's mouth free of germs with the intensity of a propane torch.

Reggie doesn't care for all the new-fangled, less assaultive, minty- and citrus-fresh flavored versions the company has brought out in recent years to appeal to a broader consumer base. If Reggie is going to use a mouthwash (which he does), he wants it to be the real thing—and for him that means the original Listerene® antiseptic mouthwash that is so intense that rinsing one's mouth with it for more than a few seconds brings tears to one's eyes. Pow!

2. Pinaud Club Man® Talc

I first learned about Pinaud's "World Famous since 1810" Club Man® Talc from a barber I went to many years ago, who ritually dusted his clients' necks with this wonderful, old fashioned talcum powder.

Club Man® Talc isn't all that easy to find in drugstores these days, since when it is stocked at all it is usually relegated to the bottom shelves, along with other low-priced goods that appeal to an older, less-affluent clientele. When I do come across Club Man® Talc's iconic green containers, though, I am sure to scoop up several of them to take home with me to stockpile. I love Club Man® Talc's retro name and its packaging adorned with an image of a top hat and frock coat wearing, dandified swell from the 1930s. I like the scent of the talc, which is not too over-powering. And I believe it does a marvelous job for what it is intended for: namely, to sooth one's overheated, clothes-constricted body with soft, moisture-absorbing powder.

3. Rubbing Alcohol

Another drugstore staple that I return to again and again is rubbing alcohol.

When administered with a nail brush, rubbing alcohol is an extremely effective agent for maintaining the hygienic cleanliness of one's toes. And that's all I'm going to say about that here.

4. Mentholatum® Ointment

Introduced in 1889, this menthol-infused ointment has been a bedside staple in the Darling households for generations.

Mentholatum® is particularly useful for moistening the inside of one's nostrils during the heating season, when one's bedroom's air can be dry as a bone. Not only is it effective, Dear Reader, but a single jar of it can last for years.

5. NyQuil®

A newcomer when compared with the other staples discussed here, NyQuil® was introduced relatively recently, in 1968. Described as "the nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, best-sleep-you-ever-got-with-a-cold medicine," NyQuil® is my "go to" over the counter cold medicine.

There is nothing more effective than a healthy dose of NyQuil® to help get one through the night when laid low by a nasty cold. And yes, I do sometimes take a swig of it directly from the bottle instead of measuring out the suggested dose in the provided plastic cup.

And there you have it, Dear Reader: Reggie's five favorite drugstore staples. Open the bathroom cabinet in our city apartment or at Darlington House and you will be sure to find these waiting there to greet you.

Tell me, what are some of your favorite drugstore staples?

Please note: Reggie has not, nor does he expect to, receive anything for recommending these products. He is doing so for the sole purpose of entertaining his readers, which is why he writes this blog in the first place.

55 comments:

What about toothpaste? I have a thing for toothpaste, and I always look for some to bring home when I travel. Right now I am using Korean bamboo salt toothpaste from Koreatown in Toronto and sometimes Forhan's (for the gums!) from Little India. The Forhans had a great package for a long time but they recently changed it and it's so ugly.

Reggie do you really swig Nyquil from the bottle? If you do that, well it's sealed, I'm doing it too.I think you have a very sensible assortment of drugstore supplies and I agree with stockpiling, it gives one a comforting feeling.

Hello DaniBP -- Yes, I do take a swig (or two) from the NyQuil bottle. Generally only by day two or three of a nasty cold, though, when I have lost all sense of caution and don't give a damn about measuring out the correct dosage anymore! Thanks, RD

had to think about this one:1. vaseline - the best moisturizer around (as long as you're sleeping alone and don't mind sticking to your pillows) what i really like it for is softening my feet, and, following your lead, that's all i'm going to say about that.2. dental floss - but not the stringy stuff you pull out by the yard. i like the little picks with the rounded end and a bit of floss in the half circle. that's the best way i can describe them...don't know if you'll know what i mean.3. vicks vapo-rub. oh my god - reminds me of being a kid with a cold. dad would apply the vicks to my throat and wrap around one of his big wool army socks. you can also stuff some up your nose if you're really congested.4.tylenol (or it's generic equivalent) good for all aches and pains, and fevers and, well, i'll admit it - sometimes just to help fall asleep.5. noxema in the blue jar. reminds me of my old aunty millie (long gone) who wouldn't go anywhere without it. great for washing your face, taking the sting out of sunburns, and probably lots of other things i can't think of right now. but mostly i buy it for the smell...

Hello Isabel -- thank your for your informative comment. Yes, vaseline is a staple in my cabinet, too. Great product. And of course one has and uses dental floss, although one is never able to please one's hygienist who seems to thing that one is woefully slothful if one doesn't use it continuously throughout the waking hours! RD

Hello Reggie, This post brought back early memories of my father's favorite products, so I'll answer today on his behalf:

--Zinc Oxide—his panacea for every minor injury; “put some zinc oxide on it and leave it alone.”--Aspirin, especially the type known as PAC's, with the magic ingredient phenacetin, later outlawed.--Bromo Seltzer (in the blue bottles): another banned one. He switched to Alka Seltzer but didn’t like it nearly as much.--Talcum powder for shaving; he swore it reduced irritation, but it also got into his electric shavers and burned out the motors.

--Finally, Trim brand folding nail files. He was never without one in his pocket, and when they became unavailable, we went on an intense treasure hunt, combing out-of-the-way stores for forgotten stock.

Hello Parnassas: Your father was someone I am sure I would have had much to talk about with. I'm an Aspirin Guy, myself. It is a miracle drug, I think. And such a value (at least the bottles of it that I buy, which is always the store's generic brand that comes in quatities of 100 or more...) Reggie

Reggie, I agree that having drug store standard products are essentials, but they are really becoming harder to find in these days of cost-conscious chain stores. My mother asked me to pick up a bottle of Rose Water & Gylercin for her, but it was not to be found at my local Walgreens. When I asked the cosmetics manager, she said that the store tries to limit the number of products on the shelves to streamline inventory costs so they have eliminated low-profit items whenever possible in an effort to be competitive on the most popular products.

TDC -- I have found the same thing; old fashioned, inexpensive drugstore staples (and particularly those that have been around for many decades) are increasingly difficult to find on the sehleves at chain drugstores. They are either relegated to a lonely bottom shelf (such as Pinaud Club Man Talc), or have been gotten rid of altogether. Believe it or not, a good source for such products I have learned, is a Dollar store. I found that out when I took Dollar General to the bond markets a decade or so ago, and learned that their stores stock such products, given the socio-econoimic profiles of their customers. That included old fashioned ones that appealed to older generations and also products that appeal to ethnic minorities in the communities in which the stores appear. Check out the personal hygiene products there sometime, I think you'll find it interesting, and I suspect you will also find your mother's Rose Water & Glycerin. Reggie

You are quite right about the Dollar Stores, Reggie. I buy great big bars of Yardley Lavender soap there - can't find it anywhere, but I have to have a few bars in my linen closet....it reminds me of my Mum.I also find that the best place to find those 'old fashioned' products are at independent pharmacists'. There are so few nowadays, with Shopper's Drug Marts (the equivalent, I think, to your Walgreen's) on every corner.

Brother Dear, I am a devoted user of Alkalol and commend it to you. When one sleeps with the aid of a CPAP, sinus congestion can be a torment. Spritzing Alkalol into one's nostrils is a sure fire preventative. It also burns sensationally in your sinus cavities, which you might enjoy given your attachment to the no-holds-barred original awful Listerine. Fondly, Frecky. Oh, BTW, I found at least six containers of Mentholatum in MD's apartment after she died. She positively adored the stuff.

Thank you, Frecky, for chiming in here. It was from our dear MD that I learned of Mentholatum. I think of her every time I reach for the jar that sits on my bedside table. The six jars of it that you found in her apartment would likely last at least several lifetimes, at least at the rate I use it. We've owned Darlington House for 14 years now and I'm still working on the one I bought when we first moved in! Reggie

Reggie, I always enjoy your posts. Like you, I use a range of products from high end to quite pedestrian.

I, too, use isopropyl "rubbing" alcohol, though not on my toes. Perhaps I will try it. I have used the 91% strength for year for cleaning. I insert a spray top into the bottle and squirt away... everything from toilet seats to counter tops. I let it sit for a minute and then wipe. I believe it does a good job sanitizing, and it is inexpensive.

My nostrils get the Aquaphor healing ointment application rather than Mentholatum.

Many months back, I appreciated your post about cleaning products. You introduced me to Caldrea's mandarin vetiver, and I really like it.

I don't recall. Have you done a post on your cooking staples? I'm guessing some sort of sea salt (Celtic?) and perhaps Kerry Irish butter might make your list.

Hello Anon, Thank you for your comment, and I am heartened that you enjoy this series. Also, that you like the Calddrea dish washing soap. I like your idea for my next "five favorites" post, and will seriously consider it! Thnaks! Reggie

Reggie, One can secure a myriad of Clubman/Pinaud products from Bowman's Barber Supply. They have a website...very inexpensive and fast shipping. I use their shampoo, their shave talc(tinted flesh tone so not visible under front of collar) as well as the after shave. There are many great products in their line.

Dear Reggie,I am certain that the talc was exactly the same that was used by my school barber many years ago. Very much needed after a close short back and sides I can tell you.Items that I simply cannot do without on a regular basis are Wilkinson Sword Shaving Soap, Paul Smith Eau de Toilette, Bio Oil and Nivea Hand Lotion. But the absolute must, wherever I go, is my Edwen Jagger Shaving Brush.Have a good weekend.

Hello Gary, thank you for your comment and the products you use. I also use a shaving brush (stopped using another old fashioned product -- Barbasol -- as a result). Mine is from D.R. Harris & Co. and is a thing of beauty, and a pleasure to use. It was not, however, inexpensively acquired at a drugstore (but rather at a carriage-trade specialty shop), and therefore did not qualify for this "Five Favorites" post. Thanks! Reggie

It is disheartening to see the old standbys disappearing. I went to the store a few years ago to get Cola syrup or an upset stomach and was surprised that it was not available. Mercuru-chrome is now Mercuro-clear. I have no idea why.My husband and I fondly recall Rose milk lotion as standard hand cream but it is long gone.

Hello Kerry -- Thank you for your comment. I am not a fan of the continuous "improvements" to tried and true products. It's okay to tinker around with an original, when creating a pruduct extension, but please don't change it altogether. Sometimes the original is best -- that's what made it a gangbuster seller in the first place! As far as finding old-fashioned and infrequently-stocked products -- such as those you refer to -- try looking for them at a Dollar store. As I wrote earlier, some of them are still stocked in those stores. Thanks, Reggie

I used the original Listerine for many years...until it burned my gums. Now I am forced to use Tom's of Maine, which is a good substitute. I'm going to try the rubbing alcohol on my toes. My late father always called Nyquil "Baptist Booze" because the teatotalers swore by it for their colds. It is also a great sleep aid. Another great product is Smith's Rose Bud salve. I use it for lip balm, but my mother and my grandmother always used it for minor skin irritations. When I was little, it was sold in drugstores and by the Jewel Tea man. Now the only place that I can find it is Sephora. I always have a jar of Noxema around. It is great for a lot of things. After reading your 5 favorite cleaning items, I'm going to order a bottle of the Caldrea dish soap. Mrs. Meyer's has too much fragrance.

Hello Tammy B: Thank you for your comment. I shall now and forever hereafter call NyQui "Baptist Booze" -- that is hilarious! It certainly does the trick, and I am sure the alchohol in it ensures its success. I hope you will enjoy Caldrea's dish soap. It comes in a number of fragrances. The Mandarin Vitavier is not an unsubtle fragrance, so I suggest you take a whif of it before commiting to buy it as it is not inexpensive. RD

Hello Kerena: Yes, dental floss is a daily ritual of mine. In fact, I dreamt about a particularly vigrous session of it just last night! The other day I bought cotton swabs and balls, as my supply had become depleted. The swabs are most useful for when I use an astringent (either Sea Breeze or Witch Hazel). I also use swabs for cleaning dear Pompey's facial folds (he is a pug), and I use cotton balls for cleaning his ears. Be well! Reggie

Gosh a trip down memory lane- Mentholatum was a staple at my grandmother's house as well as Listerine- Clubman or Mennen powder in Grandfather's bath the Mennen was flesh color- Mavis powder in Grandmother's- along with witch hazel, Noxema, Listerine and of course rubbing alcohol- I still remember the smell of the cabinet in which she kept everything- OH and Germaine Monteil "Supertone" astringent - she would wipe our faces and necks before bed and show us how much dirt we missed- Py-Co-Pay tooth powder anyone?

Hello Thomas -- I am pleased this post (and the related comments) have triggered a happy trip for you down memory lane. I think you may even find yourself happier, still, if you (re)try some of the products used by your grandparents and recommended by me and the commenters. Py-Co-Pay tooth powder doesn't ring a bell for me. By the time I came on the scene, most people had taken up tooth paste. Even in the 1960s (I can't remember before then) I though tooth powder peculiarly old fashiomed. Now, I suppose, I'd like it! Thanks, Reggie

Dear Reggie,I am not au fait with what they sell at drugstores (I guess they are like chemist shops) but one important thing I would include on the list is Dettol antiseptic. It may seem unusual but I rather like the smell of it - a nice clean smell if you know what I mean. I also like to put a little in the bath!Kirk

Hello Kirk -- you are correct, drugstores are the same as chemists shops. However, here on this side of the pond most drugstores have been acquired (or put out of business by) large chains that have expanded the stores' merchandise to include all sorts of non pharmaceuticals, including groceries, party supplies, household products . . . and more. While more "convenient" for some, I find this less than useful as it has meant that many of the older, less profitable standby products are being cast off, and are no longer available (as some of my commenters point out). Thanks, Reggie

By all means, a bottle of Benedryl in the clear liquid form or some type of antihistamine cream for easing the itch of those dratted mosquito bites. I'm sure you must have those critters in upstate New York.

I love drug stores! Especially the old classics found in small towns. One of my favorites in NYC was Alps (RIP)--the chicest little place at the corner of 9th and 42nd. It was a great spot to find a lot of European brands.Here's my list of drugstore classics: Noxema--love that tingle and it smells so good; Sea Breeze--especially refreshing in the summer; Queen Helene Cholesterol--to condition the tails of my horses; Ichthammol--for bug bite itchies on my horses; Cover Girl mascara--not for my horses, but for me.

Hello Cynna -- I, too, am a fan of Sea Breeze, particularly during summer months. I have had the devil of a time finding it recently, as the chain stores that have taken over the city's drugstores don't stock it. Maddening! Witch Hazel is an acceptable alternative, and not as harsh (but I like the astringency of SB). Reggie

Hello Merry Wife -- I once spent a summer in a beach house on Fire Island where Queen Helene's Mint Julep Masque was a favorite of a nmber of the fellows. I think I may have even tried it, once, and enjoyed it! Reggie

Listerine, for sure. Best thing going. St. Joseph's Aspirin (I use the baby formula because it's gentler). Oil of Olay and L'oreal (my complexion is virtually unlined, and I've always used drugstore brands). Emergen-C (to help boost my immune system during cold and flu season if I'm feeling weak). Neosporin (the best ointment ever), and Ayr or Ocean (saline solution nasal mist for sinuses, but I make sure to throw out the bottle after using it for several days when I'm feeing sinusy). That's about it. If I have other issues, I go to the health food pharmacy or health food store. We try to eat organic and go that route as much as possible.

Hello Reggie,If you shop on the Internet, Clubman Pinaud talc is available on Amazon for the bargain price of $13.77 (three 9 oz. containers).I, too, find Nyquil indispensable for colds. I am also a fan of Vicks VapoRub. That menthol ointment warms the chest and cuts right through a stuffy nose.Karen

Hello -- enjoyed your post. I can't survive without Pepto Bismo -- both the tablets and the bottle -- in my bathroom cabinet. I find it's a "must have" for helping soothe an upset tummy, nausea and diarrhea and that it really works if you take it at the beginning of feeling sick. I have never found any other product that can replace it. It's an amazing, mysterious concoction and it's the one product I'd take with me if I was travelling.

About Me

Saint Grottlesex/Ivy League somewhat-observant Episcopalian WASP living on Manhattan's UES during the week with a career in finance. Weekends I hightail it up to the Hudson River Valley where I'm ruinously restoring and furnishing a jewel of a Federal house with my spouse, Boy Fenwick, and our most-adored pug, Basil, who has decided views on these subjects.